Sydney Children's Festival September 25, 2011

Riverside Theatres
September 26 – October 8

Experience the unique blend of madcap artistic mayhem at the Sydney Children’s Festival 2011.

CarriageWorks in association with The Daily Telegraph invite you to experience a playground like no other at the Sydney Children’s Festival this September. A series of performances, events, workshops and free activities will be offered at Riverside Theatres from September 26 – October 8.

The focus at Sydney Children’s Festival is on encouraging community participation, and inspiring creativity and imagination in children (and the child in all of us!). The Festival nurtures a love for the arts amongst Australia’s youngest generation of artists, patrons and cultural contributors. It is designed for all kids up to the age of 12 to participate in with their families.

For a full list of performances and workshops, please visit www(dot)riversideparramatta(dot)com(dot)au

Everyone can take part in theatre, circus, visual arts, storytelling, music, film, creative sustainability and dance activities. Festival activities are happening at CarriageWorks, Seymour Centre, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Riverside Theatres and Newcastle Museum.

In 2008, CarriageWorks launched the first ever Sydney Children’s Festival and it was a huge success! Over 10,000 people came and enjoyed our inaugural Festival. In 2009 Sydney Children’s Festival returned with a range of programs across various art forms. More than 17,000 people visited the festival over 2 weeks. In 2010 the Sydney Children’s Festival expanded across the city, from Mosman all the way out to Wollongong, reaching over 40, 000 people.

“The magic of Sydney Children’s Festival is that it is an open access, welcoming experience for everyone. So, this year run amok, climb, paint, fly, dance, sing, build with junk, explore, take photos, make TV, enrol in a workshop, see a performance – but above all else, try something you’ve never done before” says Artistic Director, Jamie Dawson and Creative Producer, Tory Loudon.

Sydney Children’s Festival performances and workshops include:

The Chaos Fairy

By Nicholas Flanagan
Directed by Darren Gilshenan

September 27 - October 1 at
10am & 2pm

The Chaos Fairy is a family musical aimed in particular at children aged 4 to 12 years. It tells of a young boy, Aloysius, a talented singer who enlists the help of a chaotic fairy and an eccentric wizard to deal with his problem of freezing up whenever he attempts to perform before an audience.

The fairy and the wizard are also useful in helping Aloysius deal with his separated parents, both of whom are interfering and argumentative. Unfortunately, his helpers' methods are mischievous and initially their brand of assistance just lands Aloysius in a whole heap of trouble.

There is method to their madness however, and with simple magic, clowning, hilarious physical comedy, great songs, and much infectious laughter, the riotous antics of these two magical creatures cause Aloysius’s parents to stop their squabbling, look at themselves, become friends, and allow Aloysius to find his own way, his own resolve, and his own courage. Soon Aloysius is able to sing his heart out, for whoever, and whenever, he likes!

Make it! Artspace Parramatta

September 27 – October 1 all day

Free Event, Just rock up! Here’s a space where you can cause a commotion with crafty activities to stir up the senses!

There are no rules in the Make It! Art Space - your art can be as outrageous as you like! We have tables full of tools to cut, colour, paste and paint, so let your creativity run riot. Conjure up a concoction straight from your imagination. What will you be inspired by?

You can take your creation home to show off to your friends and family, and hopefully inspire them to join you and create crazy and crafty fun every day.

Little Circus Workshop (Age 3 - 5)

September 27 – 28 at 10am

Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply A workshop for little ones who love being the centre of attention! In this workshop you will be introduced to a wide range of circus skills through warm-ups, exercises and games which focus on balance, tumbling, fun, safety and group work.

With tutors from Aerialize to teach you the ropes, you’ll be ready to take the stage at the big top!

Make sure you wear comfy clothes you can move easily in and closed-toe shoes - sneakers are perfect.

Free Play with Circus Solarus

Septermber 27 – October 1 at 10:30am till 2:30pm

Free, just rock up! Sydney Children’s Festival takes over the Riverside Theatres’ courtyard for six special days.

Come on down and join in the fun! There are different activities at throughout the day to get involved in. You might make a costume, create a chalk masterpiece, or make shadow puppets!

Storytelling From Around The World

September 27 – October 1 at 10am till 11am

Free, just rock up! Hear stories from all around the globe from local story tellers. Who knows what you’ll hear! Every day will be different, so you can come back as many times as you like.

Children must be supervised at all times.

I went to Sydney Children's Festival and I....

September 27 – October 1 from 10am till 4pm

Free, just rock up! Ate purple macaroni....

What happened to you at the festival? Tell us about what you learnt, how you played, and the ideas that you are taking home! Did you make new friends? Did mummy have a good time?

Write stories, haiku, limericks, songs, draw, and dream. We love hearing about your experiences, and so will everyone who will read your message after you’ve gone home!

Aerial & Circus Workshop (Ages 8-12)

September 27 – 28 at 12:30pm and 1:45pm

Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply Have you ever been to the circus? Did you marvel at the skills and strength of the performers? In this hour-long workshop you’ll be introduced to the basic skills of all circus performers, with elementary ground and aerial exercises. Your career in the circus will be off to a flying start!

You’ll be introduced to classic aerial apparatus like the trapeze and tissue, and practice with hula hoops, juggling batons and spinning plates! All activities focus on balance, fitness, safety and fun.

Interviews with Children Parramatta

September 27 – October 1 all day

Free, just rock up! Presented by Sydney Childrens Festival and Dumbo Feather, original concept by Harrell Fletcher.

Discover more about some of Sydney’s little minds in this exhibition. Curated by Harrell Fletcher and Sydney Children’s Festival, Interviews with Children will be exhibited across all festival venues including CarriageWorks, Seymour Centre and Riverside Theatres Parramatta. If you’d like to know more about the project visit the Dumbo Feather website.

Kid’s Films Parramatta

September 27 – October 1 from 10am till 4pm

Free, just rock up! Sit back, relax and be entertained with a wide variety of short films and independent videos designed by, or created for kids!

Theresa McCarthy, a talented graduate from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), has hand-picked a series of films that will delight and amuse the whole family.

Aerial & Circus Workshop (Ages 5-8)

September 27 – 28 at 11:15am

Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply Have you ever been to the circus? Did you marvel at the skills and strength of the performers? In this hour-long workshop you’ll be introduced to the basic skills of all circus performers, with elementary ground and aerial exercises. Your career in the circus will be off to a flying start!

You’ll be introduced to classic aerial apparatus like the trapeze and tissue, and practice with hula hoops, juggling batons and spinning plates! All activities focus on balance, fitness, safety and fun.

Make sure you wear comfy clothes you can move easily in and closed-toe shoes - sneakers are perfect.

Shadow Theatre Workshop (Ages 8-12)

September 28 at 10am & 12pm

Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply Shadow puppets are fun! In this creative workshop you’ll learn the basics of set making, talk about what makes a good puppet show, and play with some professional puppets! Then you’ll design and create your shadow puppet set.

In this workshop you’ll learn about the properties of light, how to manipulate shapes to create the look you want, and how very simple additions to your puppet set can create astonishing effects.

At the end of the workshop all puppeteers will go home with your set, which you can create any number of new shows with!

Sydney Children's Festival Choir

Rehearsal Dates:
August 27 at 2pm-5pm
September 3 at 2pm-5pm
September 10 at 2pm-5pm
September 17 at 2pm-5pm

Performance Dates:
September 28 at 7pm

Performance Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply In 2011 the Sydney Children’s Festival Choir will amass a group of over 150 voices. We are looking for children and their grown-ups to join in, learn new songs and perform together! The choir is a wonderful activity to get involved in as a family, and welcomes people of all levels of experience and ability. If you have ever been tempted to join a choir but lacked the confidence – now is the time!

The choir will be led by Carl Pannuzzo and Penny Larkins, both highly skilled musicians with over 20 years experience as performers and choral masters. Participants will perform songs composed especially for the choir by emerging local young songwriters who have been mentored by professional musicians for months before the festival.

The choir will perform not once, but twice, on professional stages at the Riverside Theatre Parramatta and CarriageWorks as part of the Sydney Children’s Festival, and create a wonderful recording of the songs to keep.

Hickory Dickory Rock! Parramatta

September 28 – 29 at 11:15am & 1:45pm

Free, just rock up! Presented by Sydney Children's Festival and Tim Jackman. For those about to rhyme – we salute you! These aren't just any old rhymes, these are nursery rhymes!

Tim's rhymes have a rock n roll backbeat, a lot of soul and a big squeeze of silly! With a bundle of tunes and his trusty guitar Tim will have you singing, dancing and clapping along. Reviving old favourites and doing jazzed up versions of classic hits; this free performance will get you involved, your vocal chords warm and your memories stirred.

Grab your Little Miss Muffett, twinkle your little stars, put your whole self in and shake it all about!

Make a Film in a Day (Ages 8-12)

September 29 at 10am till 4pm

Cost: $25 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply Race the clock and experience the thrill of making a film in a day!

Discover the ins and outs of camera technology and technique, develop an eye for cinematography and directing, and gain the confidence to step in front of the camera to perform in character.

As a team you will brainstorm and storyboard your awesome idea, cast the actors, hunt for interesting looking locations to film, and edit your work to produce the perfect final cut! At the end of the day your film will be in the can, and you get to look forward to a proper DVD of your very own movie arriving at your house by post - proof that you did it all in a day!

Make sure you wear comfy clothes you can move easily in and closed-toe shoes - sneakers are perfect.

The Digital Maze (Ages 7-12)

September 30 – October 1 at 10:30am & 1:30pm

Cost: $15 (Flat Rate) + transaction fees apply Part performance, part game, part puzzle! In this exciting workshop you’ll work in teams to make your way through a puzzling, interactive digital maze. It’s like being inside your very own video game.

Sydney Children’s Festival
at Riverside Theatres, cnr of Church and Market Streets Parramatta
Dates: September 26 – October 8
Bookings: Riverside Theatres Box Office on 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au
*transaction fees apply